The Technical Service Specialist II is responsible for providing expert technical support to customers, sales and product development teams for products and applications. This role provides advanced application support by applying chemistry and problem-solving skills to help customers develop, optimize, and troubleshoot applications and processes using Cortec’s products. This role partners closely with customers, sales, R&D, and manufacturing teams to ensure product success, deliver innovative solutions, and strengthen the company’s technical reputation in the marketplace.
POSITION ACCOUNTABILITIES
Customer Support & Technical Leadership:
Serve as the primary technical contact for key customers, providing high-level guidance on product selection, application, and process optimization.
Lead complex troubleshooting and root cause analysis for product performance or quality issues, coordinating cross-functional teams to deliver effective solutions.
Design and execute laboratory testing, pilot trials, and on-site customer evaluations to validate product performance and application suitability.
Application Development & Innovation:
Drive new application development and product introduction in collaboration with R&D and Product Line Managers.
Translate customer needs into actionable technical requirements, supporting formulation improvements or new product concepts.
Identify market and technology trends to guide product innovation and competitive differentiation.
Technical Communication & Training:
Develop and deliver technical presentations, training, and webinars/seminars for distributors, end users, and internal teams.
Author technical documents including application guides, white papers, technical bulletins, and data packages.
Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior technical service staff and lab personnel.
Quality, Compliance & Continuous Improvement:
Lead product performance evaluations and complaint investigations using structured problem-solving approaches.
Ensure products meet safety, quality, and regulatory standards for intended use.
Recommend and implement improvements to testing methods, processes, and documentation practices.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Partner with Sales, Marketing, and Manufacturing to support commercialization, scale-up, and market launch activities.
Provide technical input for strategic customer development and business growth initiatives.
Travel: Plant and customer site visits with up to 25% travel depending on project and customer needs, including domestic and occasional international trips.
MINIMUM EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical field.
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE: 5+ years of experience in technical service, applications development, or formulation within the chemical manufacturing industry.
Proven experience leading customer projects, trials, or product launches.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Demonstrated expertise in customer technical support, application development, or cross-functional project leadership.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, both technical and customer-facing.
Strong customer service orientation and interpersonal skills
Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and mentor others.
Skilled in experimental design, data interpretation, and reporting. Proficient in laboratory methods and process optimization.
Field experience leading product trials and demonstrations.